"Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious." - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, 1972

A once devout Guam Catholic insider says that an archbishop urged him to try to discredit an abuse victim. The revelation echoes similar and fresh controversies in New York and Chile in which bishops also “trash” abuse victims.

In a new post, prominent Guam blogger Tim Rohr reports that in 2010, he “was called to the chancery by (Archbishop Anthony Apuron's) legal counsel,” met with “several important people,” and “was given a letter by the legal counsel and asked to take it to the media.” It was “intended to discredit (SNAP leader Joelle) Casteix and get her to go away.”

He refused and reportedly asked the group “What do we have to hide” about predator priests? Later, Rorh began siding with Casteix, other victims and concerned Catholics. He has since challenged and criticized the archbishop and his staff about clergy sex crimes and cover ups on the island.

Casteix, a volunteer and a mother, is the long-time western regional director of SNAP.

This is the third time in a week a Catholic prelate attacked or allegedly attacked abuse victims.

---In New York, in a recently-disclosed deposition, Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham said that a child sex abuse victim is “culpable.”

---In Chile, recently-disclosed emails show that one of Pope Francis’ top advisors “conspired to block a survivor from joining the Pope's sex abuse advisory board, accusing him of lies,” according to the Christian Today. Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati and his predecessor Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz were both concerned that more details of abuse and cover up might emerge if victim Juan Carlos Cruz, who was assaulted by Fr. Fernando Karadima, were named to the papal panel.

We hope these revelation will prod others who saw, suspected or suffered sexual violence by church staff, in Guam and elsewhere, to come forward, get help, expose wrongdoers, and protect kids. Specifically, we hope they’ll call police and prosecutors and confide in sources that are independent, not church officials.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

A once devout Guam Catholic insider: Actually I am still "devout". Such scandals don't hurt my faith. They make it stronger. It is no surprise that Satan hounds the Catholic Church. Jesus told us this would happen.

an archbishop urged him to try to discredit an abuse victim: Technically it was a committee. The archbishop wasn't at the meeting. And I was not urged to "discredit an abuse victim" (since none came forward), I was urged to discredit SNAP and the bill introduced by Senator Cruz to lift the statute of limitations on sex crimes against minors.

about predator priests: As can be seen from the quotes around my words, I didn't refer to "predator priests." In fact, I am convinced that our church would not have "predator priests" if we did not first have predator bishops - or at least bishops who are severely morally compromised. Why else would they look the other way at this stuff? The bishops are quick to throw priests under the bus - when it was their job in the first place to protect the flock.

Snap overall is a good organization that helps the victims of sexual abuse, of not only the Catholic Church, but other religions as well. They keep the feet of the abusers to the fire, and get results. Yet you have to keep in perspective, that while many who have suffered have forgiven, others are still scarred and have become quiet anti-Catholic.It is why you must read carefully what Snap says.Joelle for example is a fair minded person, but Clohessy in St Louis, has a tendency to rush to judgement, as we have seen with his willingness to condemn Fr Paul, without having the proper info. It took many letters from many people, for him to correct his original statement, and he only did it under duress. SNAP can be useful, but they also have their own agenda. Going in with open eyes, ears and minds is essential.